As is often said: Your home is the most likely to be the biggest investment you will make in your lifetime. Don’t make the mistake of putting your Philadelphia home purchase into the hands of just anyone. There are many Philadelphia home inspectors out there competing for your business, all claiming to be the most reputable and the best fit for your job. Unfortunately, not all home inspectors are created equal, and choosing the wrong one can cost you a lot of time, money, and aggravation. Follow these tips for how to choose a home inspector:

Ask how long they have been in business. The longer your inspector has been in business means the more experience and knowledge and the better qualified to perform your home inspection. We can all appreciate that the more you do something , the better you get at doing it. You need to hire an inspector that has seen it all and knows what it is the inspector is looking at and how to report it to you.

Ask if they have an engineering degree. While a home inspector does not need to be an engineer to perform home inspections, if your home inspector is an engineer, you at least know that your inspector has knowledge of the theories of structures and how they behave as well as the discipline necessary to perform a methodical inspection. Keep in mind that engineer is proud of his education and ability to obtain an engineering degree and they are trained to serve the public interest. Engineers after all, build bridges and roads and design our country’s infrastructure.

Ask if they are an ASHI Certified Inspector. The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), founded in 1976, is North America’s oldest and most respected professional society of home inspectors. All ASHI members join as an Associate – regardless of training or experience while ONLY an ASHI Certified Inspector (ACI) are fully certified and have proven experience and knowledge to perform your home inspection.

Ask for references. If you have friends or relatives that have recently purchased a house, ask them who they may used. Ask if they were happy with the inspector’s services and capabilities. If you are working with an Attorney, ask for the name of a home inspector they may know. In any event, DO NOT always just use the home inspector recommended by your real estate agent. Keep in mind that real estate agents work for themselves and their home inspector recommendation may be self serving. You need to hire an independent home inspector who is working for you and not your real estate agent, even though you may be paying for the inspection.

Online research. You can find a lot of very valuable information about most home inspectors with just a simple online search. Sites like Yelp and Google Places allow customers to post their reviews of businesses, but remember that there is no better indicator of a home inspector’s quality than word of mouth.

Licensing and insurance. Any inspector you choose to do business with should be licensed to work in your area, and insured as may be required by state law. Don’t be afraid to ask the home inspector directly for proof of both. In some cases, this may be your only protection in the case that the worst does happen and you must seek compensation for an error or omission.

Consultation. It is important that you interview a number of home inspectors before settling on the one for the job. Prepare a list of questions to ask and then make your phone calls. A home inspector should be able to provide you with a price estimate. You can compare estimates, as well as the information you get during interviews, to choose the right home inspector for your inspection.

Many people come to rely on the knowledge and skill of a home inspector at some point in time, and for a wide variety of reasons. If you are having a problem, call an independent home inspector for an opinion or to come and have a “look-see” as to what is happening. Keep in mind that a contractor may also come to look at your situation but that contractor may be tempted to ask you to fix something that really does not need fixing. The only thing that a home inspector charges you is for time spent consulting and that situation you are faced with may just be a simple do-it-yourself type project you can do on your own and thus save you money. If you have need for a Philadelphia home inspection or consultation on a project that needs the attention of a professional, contact the experts at House-Check, Inc. We can be reached by phone, at 610-933-4431 or via email: RomanPaul@House-Check.com.